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Government of Canada Supports the Ottawa Dragon Boat Race Festival

OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - June 21, 2008) - The Ottawa Dragon Boat Race Festival will be able to enhance its activities for the visiting public thanks to an investment by the Government of Canada.

Royal Galipeau, Deputy Chair of Committees of the Whole, and Member of Parliament (Ottawa-Orleans), on behalf of the Honourable Josee Verner, Minister of Canadian Heritage, Status of Women and Official Languages and Minister for La Francophonie, today announced funding for the Ottawa Dragon Boat Race Festival.

The Ottawa Dragon Boat Race Festival will receive funding of $12,500 to help present its 15th festival, which will take place from June 20 to June 22, 2008. The three-day event features boat races and diverse cultural entertainment.

"The Government of Canada is pleased to support the Ottawa Dragon Boat Race Festival," said Minister Verner. "We are committed to building stronger communities and to providing all Canadians with opportunities to experience and celebrate Canadian heritage."

"Exciting community events, such as the Ottawa Dragon Boat Race Festival, must have access to resources in order to thrive and grow," said Mr. Galipeau. "The Government of Canada is proud to join in this wonderful celebration for the Ottawa region."

"We are so pleased to have been awarded this support from the Department of Canadian Heritage," said John Brooman, Executive Director of the Ottawa Dragon Boat Race Festival. "We will now be able to offer the Ottawa community new and exciting arts programming that, historically, we have not been able to feature. This funding allows us to contribute toward building the community by offering artists that we have never been able to showcase before."

The Building Communities Through Arts and Heritage (BCAH) program, announced in September 2007, provides Canadians with more opportunities to take part in local activities that present arts and culture and celebrate local history and heritage. This program will benefit many community events and celebrations throughout Canada this year.

Contact Information

Office of the Minister of Canadian Heritage,Status of Women and Official Languagesand Minister for La FrancophonieDominic GosselinPress Secretary819-997-7788orCanadian HeritageOntario RegionMaya KaneManager, Regional Communications416-954-6615